Category: Education

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InclusiveU: What College Should Look Like for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

Many people agree, college is some of the best years of life.

It’s the first time we live independently. We make decisions that will shape our life forever. It’s a place were lasting relationships are made.

 

This experience is no different for Josh, a recent graduate of Syracuse University.

He cheers for the Giant Orange in the Otto’s Army section of the SU football stadium. He hangs out with his friends at the UU and interned at SubCat, a professional recording studio off campus.

“SubCat was my favorite internship. I could find out information about getting a job and how to work with the people involved in the job, like the boss or co-workers,” Josh says.

All of these experiences are extraordinary compared to your typical college student, because Josh has Down syndrome.

There are currently more than 260 college programs available to students with intellectual disabilities. The cream of the crop is Syracuse University’s InclusiveU program in New York state.

Related: Yes, My Son with Down Syndrome Can Go to College

I got the privilege to hear InclusiveU executive director, Beth Myers, speak at the first annual NDSS #DSWorks conference in Washington, D.C. I learned how the program fully integrates students with intellectual disabilities into the fabric of campus life.

InclusiveU is one of only a few college programs that practices full equitable inclusion.

This means students with intellectual disabilities declare a major, enroll as an audit student for certificate (which is open to all students), take the same classes as their typical peers, and live with them in the dormitory.

Josh recall’s his favorite professor: “My favorite memory was working on the lights with David Bowman, one of my teachers. He was a really fun guy to be with. Doing the lights for the stage is one of my goals for the future and part of my major.”

A peer-to-peer program helps to facilitate this inclusion.

Josh says, “I got to go to classes, I would study with my peer partners, Cindy and Lindsay. My favorite classes were the classes at Syracuse Stage and stage techniques, were really fun. I graduated with a certificate in Visual and Performing Arts.”

Modifications and adapted coursework allows students to experience a wide-range of courses on campus.

Students have full access to the course catalog, but they can’t take Writing 400 unless they’ve passed the prerequisite courses.

InclusiveU uses Project Search to help students with independence skills. “I love it. The reason why I loved Project SEARCH was because I could explore all the job opportunities I liked,” Josh explains.

The 42 students currently in the program are expected to complete three employment internships on or off campus. They also take seminars in communication skills, professional dress, employment, and self-advocacy.

Entry into the program includes a written application and in-person interview. The student doesn’t need a high school diploma, and the program doesn’t look at GPA or SAT scores. InclusiveU accepts students who are non-verbal, non-readers, and who have low mobility.

Related: Inclusion for Students with Down Syndrome is Just a Click Away

During the #DSWorks seminar I learned that the biggest barrier to more higher education opportunities like InclusiveU is money (isn’t it always?).

Tuition for InclusiveU can run upwards of $23,000 a year. Medicaid waivers, pell grants, scholarships, and federal financial aid are now available to students with an intellectual disability. Still, the cost can be prohibitive. And starting a program like this takes a lot of advocacy and a lot more money.

For Josh, the experience was priceless!

He learned to live independently and hopes to use the skills he learned in his eventual career: “I want to work at pop concerts (Lady Gaga, Ke$ha) working on live audio, lights and special effects. I would like to also work on a TV show specifically a reunion show (Brady Brunch, Full House) being an assistant.”​

“I will miss the people at Syracuse University and InclusiveU when I move to Florida.”

Congratulations Josh! You’re an inspiration. Inclusion Evolution and the Down syndrome community wishes you the best of luck!

Do you know someone with Down syndrome that is attending college? Tell me about your experience below or private message me.

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Thank you for your response. ✨

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$10 Million To be Awarded To Agency that Delivers Inclusive Results for Students with Down Syndrome

Should students with the most significant cognitive disabilities be educated alongside their typical peers?

Evidence-based research and special needs parents overwhelmingly say YES, they should.

Now the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education is awarding a up to $10 million dollars to an educational agency that promises to deliver inclusive results for these type of students.

This is big news for the inclusive education crowd! 

The Department of Education is accepting applications from state and local education agencies, as well as non-profit and for-profit agencies until June 16, 2017.

The hope is this competition will help address problems with continued segregation of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, like Down syndrome.

Here’s what we know: Evidence-based research continues to support and Federal law continues to require INCLUSION. Students with disabilities are supposed to receive a Free and Appropriate Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) with an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Reality is much different:

The majority of American school children with the most significant disabilities (intellectual disabilities, Autism, multiple disabilities, and traumatic brain injury) continue to be segregated in separate classrooms, schools, and out-of-district placements.

Here’s the other problem:

The evidence and tools for inclusion are available, but real-world implementation and support in schools is serious lacking.

I understand this as a former secondary school teacher. My first year teaching in Virginia was in an “inclusive” setting, but I did not receive appropriate support. My students suffered the most from this lack of support.

When I moved to Utah, students with significant disabilities were sent to special schools; no support needed.

The winning educational agency will receive $2 million federal dollars annually for up to 5 years to implement and sustain inclusive practices.

The competition’s media director, Tina Diamond, told me the Office of Special Education doesn’t want to give limitations to the agency such as exactly how many students they must impact. The agency is not limited to a brick-and-mortar building to implement their strategy either.

But there will be performance goals to sustain the funding, and the OSE has these specific 4 goals in mind:

  1. Increase the amount of time students with significant disabilities are educated in inclusive classrooms.
  2. Increase education engagement of students with significant disabilities (i.e. academic instruction and extracurricular activities).
  3. Increase the quality of instruction through interventions and accommodations supported by evidence.
  4. Supporting districts and education groups in implementing inclusive practices in grade-level academics and extracurricular activities.

The OSE is responsible for funding other inclusive programs like SWIFT Schools (Schoolwide Integrated Framework for Transformation).

Still, Diamond says the OSE continues to see a barrier for inclusion for students with the most significant disabilities.

Diamond says the OSE worked on unveiling this competition for many months, and are excited to finally have it rolled out this year. Applications will be reviewed in August, and a winner is expected to be announced some time in September 2017.

Find out how educational agencies can apply here!